Door construction



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 D 5 a v. 2 mm M o m R m I .m 0 F m. N 5/ F m 0 4 5 h nu .1 iwvw. R I i 2 M a 6 a 2 C I 2 f w w 5 M Q 2 PI. 7, 151.44. 2 3 m 2 Dec. 3, 1963 c. R. CRITCHFIELD DOOR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Dec. 10, 1956 Dec. 3, 1963 'c. R. cRITC-HFIELD- DOOR CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet. 3

Original Filed Q99. 10, 1956 INVENTOR. CLARENCE R.CR|TCHF|ELD United States Patent 3,112,817 DOOR CONSTRUCTIGN Clarence R. Critchiield, Latrobe, Pa, assignor to Overly Manufacturing Company, Greensburg, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Qriginai application Dec. 10, 1956, Ser. No. 627,365, new Patent No. 2,979,735, dated Apr. 18, 1961. Divided and this application Dec. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 79,162

6 Claims. (Cl. 189-46) This invention relates generally to doors for entrances to public buildings and more specifically to a metal frame for such doors which are economical to construct and are adjustable in assembly on the building.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 627,365, filed December 10, 1956, now US. Patent No. 2,979,785, issued April 18, 1961.

The glass and metal framing therefor, including doors, of entrances to public buildings are of necessity assembled in place after the building is erected. The doors and framing of the entrances are largely prefabricated to established dimensions and assembled before bringing to the building site. Any deviation of the building structure receiving said doors and framing requires expensive alterations to correct same. The fit of such doors in the entrance framing might be to as exact dimensions as possible to make the doors weather-tight, avoid failures of operations and to provide safety of operation.

One object of the invention is to provide a strong, light weight, prefabricated metal frame for doors of the type embodying glass panels which may be economically manufactured and readily adjusted as to fit without material alteration of the building structure.

This and other objects of the invention will be made aparent from the following description and the drawing forming a part thereof wherein:

FIG. 1 shows in elevation a building entrance and door construction embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged elevational view of the door of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows in enlarged detail the details of construction and assembly of the door members;

FIG. 4 shows in enlarged detail a section taken on lines IV-IV of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 shows in enlarged detail a section taken on lines V-V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 shows in enlarged detail a section taken on lines VI-VI of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 shows in enlarged detail a section taken on lines VHVII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 shows in enlarged detail a modification of the section through the door stile of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows in enlarged detail a cross section taken on lines XI-XI of FIG. 1 showing application of a lock to a double pair of doors; and

FIG. 10 shows a similar view of application of the lock to a single door and adjacent jamb.

FIG. 11 shows an enlarged detail of the push bar construction.

The door frame 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises an inner hinge stile 2, an outer stile 3, top rail 4, bottom rail 5 and center rail 6. The inner hinge stile 2, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, is substantially tubular in cross section comprising an inner web 7 having side arms 8 extending outwardly therefrom. Between the arms 8 and adajcent the outer ends thereof is a channel shaped member 9 comprised of a web portion 10 extending between the arms 8 and outwardly extending flanges 11. The flanges 11 terminate short of the outer ends of arms 8 and the latter are bent inwardly at 12 to overlap the flanges 11, locking the member 9 within the stile 2. The stile 2 and member 9 are of substantially the same length.

3,112,817. Patented Dec. 3, 1963 Adjacent each end of stile 2 the web 7 is removed for reception of the top and bottom rail members as hereinafter described. Upon the outer face of web 7 of stile 2 is a spring clip 12 secured thereto by machine screw 13. These members 12 extend between the center rail 6 and the top and bottom rail members 4 and 5. At each side of the cli 12 and held in place thereby are glass moulding members 14. The outer door stile 3 is of the same construction as the above described hinge stile 2. The stiles 2 and 3 are disposed with their webs 7 directed inwardly of the door and flange arms 8 extending outwardly therefrom.

The door top rail 4 connects the door stiles 2 and 3 at the top thereof and is flush with the ends of the stiles. Rail 4, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is substantially tubular in cross section comprising a front face 15 disposed in substantially abutting alignment with the adjacent walls 8 of door stiles 2 and 3. The upper edge of face 15 is in alignment with the upper end of the door stiles and the bottom edge is provided with an inturned horizontal flange 16 terminating in a vertical flange 17. The rear face 18 is disposed in substantially abutting alignment with the adjacent rear Walls 8 of door stiles 2 and 3. The top edge of face 13 terminates flush with the top of the adjacent door stiles and the bottom edge is flanged inwardly at 19, upwardly at 26, inwardly at 21 and downwardly at 22 to overlap the front section flange 17 and is secured thereto as by spot welding. The flanges 17 and 20 provide a pocket 23 for reception of a glass panel. Disposed between the front and rear faces 15 and 18 of rail 4 is a reinforcing channel shaped member 24 having a web 25 extending between the front and rear rail section and upwardly extending arms 26 and 27 lying against and secured to the respective adjacent rail members 15 and 18. The member 24 extends beyond each end of rail member 4 for attachment to the door stiles 2 and 3. The web 7 of the door stiles are removed to receive the member 24 and the arms 26 and 27 thereof are secured to the inner face of the arms 8 of the door stiles as shown in FIG. 3. The member 24 thus forms a pocket in the upper face of top rail 4. Within this pocket and adjacent door stile 2 is disposed a top pivot member 28 which forms no part of the invention except to mount the door. Beneath the pivot member 28 is disposed an inverted channel-shaped reinforcing member 29 having its flanges laying against the inner faces of sections 15 and 18 of the rail member 4 and secured thereto. The pivot member 23 is supported upon and secured to the member 29.

The bottom rail 5 is disposed flush with the bottom of the door stiles 2 and 3 and with the front and rear faces thereof. The front face of rail 5 is comprised of the member 3%) extending between the door stiles and provided with a top flange 31 terminating in a downwardly turned flange 32. The rear face of rail 5 is comprised of the member 33 having a top flange 34 terminating in a downwardly turned flange 35 disposed in spaced relation to flange 32 forming a pocket for reception of glass panel. The flange 35 terminates in a horizontal flange 36 and an upturned flange 37 lying against and secured to flange 32. The bottom portion of rail 5 is closed by the inverted channel member 38 having a transverse web 39 connecting the front and rear face members 30 and 33, and depending flanges 40 and 41 lying against and secured to the members 3i and 33. The member 38 extends the length of rail member 5 and extends beyond each end thereof. The webs 7 of the door stiles 2 and 3 are removed to permit the extensions of member 38 to lie between and be secured to the arms 7 of the door stiles. A reinforcing member 42 extends inwardly from the end of member 38 disposed within door stile 2 and is secured to the web 39 of member 38. This reinforce- 9 a ment 42 serves for attachment or" a suitable door pivot as mounted to the top rail member.

The center rail 6 and push bar is disposed intermediate the top and bottom rails 4 and 5 and connects with the door stiles. Preferably the center rail is disposed flush with the front and rear faces of the door stiles. Such center rail also provides a support for the adjacent margins of the top and bottom glass panels forming part of the door. Rail 6 comprises a front face 44 having inturned top and bottom flanges 45 terminating in vertical flanges 46 and inturned horizontal flanges 47. The rear face 48 is provided with top and bottom flanges 49 terminating in vertical flanges 50 which abut flanges 47 of the front face providing a pocket to receive the margin of the adjacent glass panels. Each rear face flange 50 terminates in a flange 51 lying in the plane of front face flanges 47. Two spacer channels are disposed between the said front and rear face members. The web 52 of one spacer channel abutting flanges 47 and 51 at the top of the rail 6 and the flanges 53 and 54 of the channel engaging the inner faces of members 44 and 48. Flange 47 is preferably welded to web 52 and flange 53 is welded to member 44. The spacer channel adjacent the bottom of rail 6 has its web 55 engaging adjacent flanges 47 and 51, and its side flanges 56 and 57 engaging the inner faces of members 44 and 48. The flange 56 is welded to member 44 and the web 55 is welded to flange 47. The rear face 48 of rail 6 is detachably attached to the spacer channels by screws 58 passing through flanges 54 and 57. The spacer channels extend the length of rail 6 and project beyond each end thereof into suitable openings of web 7 of the door stiles and the flanges 53, 54 and 56, 57 of the spacer channels are welded to the walls 8 of the door stiles. A suitable push bar may be mounted on the center rail at the end thereof remote from the door hinge pivots. Such push bar has a portion 60 disposed in spaced parallel relation to each rail front and back members 4 5, ts and has inturned flanges 61 secured to such members in any suitable manner. Preferably the connection of the push bar to the rear face 48 is between the spacer channels so as to permit ready removal of the face member 48 from the rail 6 for purposes hereinafter described.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings the doors hereinbefore described are symmetrical about a vertical center line and reversible by merely providing suitable supports above and below the door for engagement with the door pivots. Likewise the doors may be mounted as a single door or forming parts of a double door. The door is also constructed so as to be adjustable at each stile to provide a proper fit with the adjacent door jambs in the case of either single or double doors. This is of particular advantage in avoiding costly alterations of the building structure in cases where the door and jamb are not parallel when erected.

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings representing a typical cross section through a door stile such as 2 and 3, the open end forming the outer edge of the door has an adjustable astragal 62 mounted therein for the full length thereof, comprising an arcuate outer face 63 and inwardly directed flanges 64. The flanges 64 have a loose fit between the flanges 12 of the door stile and terminate short of the web 10 of the member 9. A plurality of screw threaded members having shanks 65 extend through the members 9 and 63 and are provided with a recessed head 66 engaging face 63 of the astragal retaining it in place. Suitable springs 67 encircle shanks 65 of the screw threaded members and resiliently resists advancement of the astragal inwardly of the door. Suitable reinforcing members 68 are preferably mounted on Web 10 of stile member providing threaded engagement with the shank 65. As the heads 66 of the screw threaded members are rotated in one direction the astragal is advanced towards the door against the springs 67 and when rotated in the opposite direction permits the astragal to move outwardly from the door. These astragals serve to adjustably close the space between the door stile and the adjacent jamb or to adjustably close the space between adjacent meeting edges of a pair of doors. Obviously the astragal may be adjusted to a position anguiarly inclined to the side face of the door in such cases where the door jamb secured to the building is not exactly parallel with the adjacent door stile.

Referring now to FIG. 8 of the drawings, a modified form of adjustable astragal is shown having provision for mounting a suitable form of plastic or felt weather stripping. The astragal 69 has an inwardly extending substantially T-shaped opening for reception and retention of weather stripping 70. The astragal 69 may be adjustably mounted in the door stile in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 7 or in any other suitable manner.

In FIG. 11 of the drawings there is illustrated a preferred manner of mounting a lock in the adjustable astragal of FIG. 7 at the lock sides of a pair of doors, and in FIG. 12 is illustrated the mounting of a lock upon a single door. Here a suitable lock L is mounted in stile 3 and the astragal 62 has a suitable opening 73 formed therein to pass the bolt LB of the lock. In the case of a single door, a suitable aligned opening '78:: may be provided in the adjacent jamb to receive the entering bolt. In the case of double doors each of the adjacent astragals 62 have aligned openings 78 therein. When using a lock having a bolt as shown it is preferable to apply a reinforcing member 77 about the opening in the member 10 to provide a stronger bearing surface for the lock and/ or the bolt.

FIG. 1 of the drawing shows a pair of doors of the invention in association with a transom and door jambs which, although designed to match the door design, form no part of the invention. The door jambs 80 may be of a length to span the door and transom openings. The upper portions of jambs 80 may be connected by the transom top and bottom members 81 and 32 forming a frame to receive and support the glass panel of the transom. The bottoms of the door jambs may be connected by a threshold plate and secured in any suitable manner to the building structure.

The door as disclosed is designed primarily for the purposes of providing a novel, strong, tubular form of door frame for inclusion of glass panels and to provide a relatively inconspicuous but strong frame. The door al o provides for easy adjustment of the door stiles relative to the jambs of the door frame and a minimum of drilling or assembly on the job. The specific details of construction disclosed are used for purposes of illustration and not limitation except as made necessary by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A door frame comprised of a pair of spaced substantially U-shaped stiles extending the full height of the door and arranged with the webs thereof in opposing relation, top and bottom door rails of substantially U-shape disposed between the respective ends of said stiles in abutting relation thereto and having the webs of said rails in opposing relation, U-shaped reinforcing members disposed within each door rail and extending beyond each end thereof, openings in the webs of said door stiles for reception of said door rail reinforcement extensions, means connecting said rail extensions to the door stiles to form a rigid door frame, a reinforcement member extending longitudinally of each stile in parallel spaced relation to the web thereof and inwardly from the outer edges of the opposite faces of the stile providing a recessed opening in the stiles, an astragal disposed within said recessed opening and projecting outwardly therefrom along the longitudinal length of each stile, and means adjustably connecting each astragal with its associated stile providing relative movement between the astragal and stile tran versely of the door frame.

2. The door frame as defined in claim 1 wherein each said astragal has a weather strip extending substantially .3 the length thereof and extending laterally outwardly therefrom.

3. The door frame as defined in claim 1 wherein the inner faces of said door stiles and door rails have means thereon for retaining a glass panel filling the opening between the rails and stiles.

4. The door frame as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the door rail reinforcements comprises a substantially U-shaped member having a web extending transversely of the rail and inwardly from the outer edge thereof, flanges on said web lying against and secured to the adjacent walls of the door rail forming an inwardly opening recess, and means disposed therein adjacent one of said stiles providing a pivotal support for the door frame inwardly from said adjacent stile.

5. The door frame as defined in claim 1 wherein the door stile reinforcement comprises a channel shaped member having a web extending transversely and longitudinally of the associated stile inwardly from the outer edges thereof and a flange at each side of said web extending outwardly therefrom and substantially coextensive with the adjacent walls of the stile, the astragal comprises a channel shaped member having an arcuate shaped web forming the outer face of the stile and inturned flanges disposed between the flanges of the reinforcing member in spaced relation to the web of the reinforcing member, a headed screw threaded member having a shank passing through said astragal web and reinforcing member web and a head portion disposed in recessed engagement with said astragal web, and resilient means disposed between 6 the webs of said astragal and reinforcing member for holding the astragal in extended relation on said screw threaded member shank.

6. The door frame as defined in claim 1 wherein a center rail is disposed between the door stiles intermediate the ends thereof and secured thereto, said center rail having depression extending longitudinally of the top and bottom faces thereof for reception of a glass panel extending between the respective face and adjacent top and bottom door rail, one side of the depression in each face of the center rail having a detachable connection to the center rail, aligned depressions in the inner faces of top and bottom door rails for reception of a glass panel extending between the center rail and respective top and bottom rails, and means mounted on the inner face of each said door stiles for retention of the adjacent margins of said glass panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 838,672 Tyra Dec. 18, 1906 1,712,107 Gervais May 7, 1929 2,0l3,412 Koenig et al. Sept. 3, 1935 2,070,812 Snead Feb. 16, 1937 2,184,259 Seaman Dec. 19, 1939 2,743,488 Thygeson May 1, 1956 2,933,784 Hooverson Apr. 26, 1960 2,979,785 Critchfield Apr. 18, 1961 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Noe 3 1123317 December 3 1963 Clarence R. Critchfield It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered petent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4 line 16 for "F160 11'' read FIG, 9 line 19 for "FIG. 12" read FIG, 10

Signed and sealed this 24th day of November 1964.

EAL)

.lcst:

EINEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER testing Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A DOOR FRAME COMPRISED OF A PAIR OF SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED STILES EXTENDING THE FULL HEIGHT OF THE DOOR AND ARRANGED WITH THE WEBS THEREOF IN OPPOSING RELATION, TOP AND BOTTOM DOOR RAILS OF SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPE DISPOSED BETWEEN THE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF SAID STILES IN ABUTTING RELATION THERETO AND HAVING THE WEBS OF SAID RAILS IN OPPOSING RELATION, U-SHAPED REINFORCING MEMBERS DISPOSED WITHIN EACH DOOR RAIL AND EXTENDING BEYOND EACH END THEREOF, OPENINGS IN THE WEBS OF SAID DOOR STILES FOR RECEPTION OF SAID DOOR RAIL REINFORCEMENT EXTENSIONS, MEANS CONNECTING SAID RAILS EXTENSIONS TO THE DOOR STILES TO FORM A RIGID DOOR FRAME, A REINFORCEMENT MEMBER EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF EACH STILE IN PARALLEL SPACED RELATION TO THE WEB THEREOF AND INWARDLY FROM THE OUTER EDGES OF THE OPPOSITE FACES OF THE STILE PROVIDING A RECESSED OPENING IN THE STILES, AN ASTRAGAL DISPOSED WITHIN SAID RECESSED OPENING AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL LENGTH OF EACH STILE, AND MEANS ADJUSTABLY CONNECTING EACH ASTRAGAL WITH ITS ASSOCIATED STILE PROVIDING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE ASTRAGAL AND STILE TRANSVERSELY OF THE DOOR FRAME. 